Listed below is Vermont's most comprehensive ski guide with 21 ski resorts. The highest elevation point is Mount Mansfield 4,393 ft, and the lowest point is Lake Champlain 95 ft. Vermont's climate is humid with warm, summers and cold winters, which become colder at higher elevations.
Ascutney Mountain Resort is one of Southern Vermont's finest family resorts. With 55 trails and a 1799 foot vertical drop the resort offers terrain for skiers of all abilities, from the gentle terrain of Little Eagle to the 2,000-foot double diamond runs of the Neverglades.
Bear Creek, formerly Round Top Ski Area, Bear Creek is a membership type club operation nestled in the Green Mountains of Vermont. , Bear Creek is a great place to bring your family. At this secluded resort, you’ll find beautifully groomed trails on a meticulously planned trail system and an intimate mountain setting with exquisite dining in our clubhouse. Ticket sales to non-members are limited.
Bromley Mountain has 43 classic New England trails and glades covering a 1335 vertical drop with a variety of terrain that is seldom seen elsewhere. It is perfect for skiers & riders of all ability levels from first timers to those who crave the gravity-adrenaline rush.
Burke Mountain sits at an elevation of 3,267 feet and offers incredible panoramic views of the surrounding Green and White Mountain ranges. Burke has terrain for beginner, intermediate, and expert skiers over 30 trails covering a 2000 vertical drop. Burke is also the home of Burke Mountain Academy, the first ski academy in the United States and who has produced more Olympians than any other academy.
The Cochran family opened their first rope tow in 1961 to provide skiing for their children and neighboring kids during the week. Since then, the backyard training area has grown into a family ski area with expanded lifts and slopes. But the love and thrill of downhill skiing that started the Cochran's on the road to World Cup and Olympic competition still lives at the Cochran Ski Area. They call it 'the downhill ski area with the cross-country atmosphere.'
Jay Peak prides itself on getting much more natural snow each season than its neighbors. Its 20 year average for Natural Snowfall is 351 inches. Another claim to fame is the areas 20+ gladed trails, the most in the East. Some of the most interesting glades are Staircase, Valhalla (the steepest on the mountain), the natural halfpipe in Canyonland and, the most challenging on the mountain, the Jay Peak Face Chutes. Regardless of your terrain of choice, the 360 degree views from the summit are staggering. Twenty percent of the mountain is designed for beginners and 40% for intermediates while, in addition to the glades; experts enjoy Jays State Side area with half a dozen steep trails.
Killington Resort posts the longest season in the eastern United States (October to June) and offers a tremendous variety of terrain on 7 mountains. The ski area is huge by the standards of eastern North America, covering 1,200 acres and the Big K also takes the biscuit for apres-ski options. The Killington access road features more than 100 restaurants, nightspots with live music and dancing, along with quiet bistros and inns.
The Lyndon Outing Club offers the best value for Northeast Kingdom Skiers with night skiing and FREE use of the tow rope on the bunny hill. Located on Shonya Hill, just east of Lyndonville village, this small area boasts some great skiing for such a small area. LOC is run strictly by volunteers-from running the lifts, managing concessions, and grooming, you'll find a community member giving (and enjoying!) there time at LOC.
The Outing Club offers 433 vertical feet of mostly upper beginner and intermediate terrain. It is served by a t-bar (which incidentally came from Stowe!), and 2 rope tows. Night skiing is also available.
Located on General Stark Mountain, Mad River Glen is famous for its expert terrain and the nation's last surviving single chairlift. Mad River usually opens on or about December 15 and closes around April 15. The actual opening date depends on snowfall, and can happen as early as Thanksgiving week.
Mad River's unique and extensive trail system descends down General Stark Mountain following the natural contours of the mountain. The original developers of Mad River Glen worked with nature to create a ski area that is now recognized for the best ski terrain in New England. The mountain's huge natural snowfall, northern exposure, and bowl shape work together to create a ski area that holds snow like no other. Mad River Glen does not allow snowboards.
Magic Mountain offers a vertical drop of 1602 feet with challenging double diamond terrain in Southern Vermont and easy trails for new skiers and riders. Surrounded by giant mega resorts, Magic is a good family ski area for downhill and riding. They have one terrain park and a half-pipe.
Middlebury College Snow Bowl has one hundred ten acres of open terrain with trails and glades serving all abilities. Access is gained via two double chairlifts and a triple chair, and about 35 percent of the open terrain has snowmaking coverage. With 15 trails (one of which is a dedicated school trail), two glades, a large climbing area, and a terrain park, the Snow Bowl offers uncrowded skiing and riding to all abilities at an affordable price.
Mount Snow is one of eastern USA's largest resorts as well as Vermont's closest big mountain to the New York City area. The sprawling resort includes neighboring Haystack and features 26 lifts serving 135 trails over five separate mountains with north, south and east facing slopes. Altogether there is more than 50 miles (80km) of trails at Mount Snow, the longest about two and a half miles in length.
A highlight for snowboarders is Mount Snow's Super "X" Pipe, a nice treat from the X-Game's. Additional highlights include the "Grommet" -- a special for-kids-only terrain park (adults must be accompanied by a child age 12 or under). The Mixing Bowl Tubing Park is open daily from 12-4 p.m. and 5-9 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and holidays.
Located in the Black River Valley of central Vermont, Okemo Mountain Resort is one of the northeast's leading resorts. Okemo's snowmaking and grooming teams are recognized nationally for overall snow quality and consistency. The mountain is a perfect choice for snowboarders and freestyle skiers, as it features two super pipes and five terrain parks. Okemo's has over 610 skiable acres with 95% covered by snowmaking.
Quechee Lakes is a great place to live. And with a private ski area, it's also a great place for beginner and intermediate skiers and snowboarders to enjoy the latest winter snowfall.
Smugglers' is continually voted one of the top family resorts in New England by readers of SKI Magazine and it is certainly a great choice if you have kids as Alice's Wonderland Child Enrichment Center keeps the little ones happy all day long. Smugglers' has the biggest vertical (2610') in northern Vermont with 300 skiable acres and terrain for everyone.
One of the best known ski resorts in the world, Stowe is also one of the most picturesque. The town's image is centered on its classic New England white church steeple but the town stretches along the roadside up to Mount Mansfield, with one classic building after another along the way. Stowe is arguably the largest genuine ski resort town in the East. The town's 90 plus shops and 60 plus restaurants give visitors a host of options.
The resort encompasses two mountains -- the famous Mount Mansfield and Spruce Peak, which backs onto Smugglers' terrain. Most visitors take the ski bus from town or park at the base, as slopeside lodging is limited. The 2,360 foot vertical is one of New England's most impressive, with experts enjoying the 'Front Four' double black diamond descents. The toughest run is generally agreed to be Goat. Most of the terrain suits intermediates who can enjoy wide open cruising runs on Spruce Peak and more wooded runs on the Mansfield side.
Stratton is a full-service ski resort. Stratton installed the first high-speed six-seat detachable chair in 1995 and it offers a profusion of fun-packed activities and events for everyone in the family including nordic skiing, ice skating, sleigh rides and a Sports Center with pool. The terrain includes, carving parks, glades, bumps, playgrounds scattered across the resort.
Sugarbush has two ski areas - Lincoln Peak (formerly Sugarbush South) and Mt. Ellen (Sugarbush North), they are connected by a high-speed quad, the Slide Brook Express. The Express takes nine and a half minutes to cover the 11,000 foot distance, and the pristine terrain of the Green Mountain National Forest below is accessible via a guided tour.
Sugarbush is known for some of the best and most diverse terrain in the East. The Sugarbush Adventure Learning Center can teach anyone, from beginner to expert, how to improve their skill and have a great time on the slopes.
Suicide Six offers 23 trails on a vertical drop of 650 feet, served with two chair lifts and a J-bar. The first substantial snowfall in mid-December marks the opening of Suicide Six, and throughout the season skiing and riding are augmented by Mother Nature, snow guns, and superior grooming until closing in mid-March.
Twin farms offer the best of the great English country house weekend. At Twin Farms, we anticipate, we acknowledge, we accommodate. It's what we do, all day and all night. The winter months at Twin Farms offer acres of snow covered hills, fields, and forests, laced with cross-country trails.
Vermont Ski Resorts